Two sites would cost less and be less difficult to permit for a new Boston Red Sox spring facility, according to an analysis released by Lee County county officials.
Two sites would cost less and be less difficult to permit for a new Boston Red Sox spring facility, according to an analysis released by Lee County county officials.
The two sites are controlled by Watermen-Pinnacle and University Highland of Naples. They were given the nod over the other two sites, which were rejected for two reasons: the land was too expensive or it would take too long to receive the necessary permits for construction.
Next up: the county will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss the matter.
It’s interesting to see Lee County move away from its demand of free land in exchange for development rights around the ballpark; no one really believes anymore that any serious revenue will be derived from surrounding development. A proposal for the ballpark at an Edison Farms site would cost only $7.7 million or so — zero for the land and the rest for infrastructure. So taxpayers will probably be on the hook for $22 million or so in land costs.
RELATED STORIES: Environmental concerns at play in new Red Sox training site; List of potential Red Sox spring sites trimmed to nine; Populous recommended to design new Red Sox spring facility; Local firm wins contract to build new Red Sox spring facility; Short list for Red Sox spring ballpark architect released; Sixteen developers present visions of new BoSox spring facility
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